248 Beport on the Geological Observations made during the 



Denmcark, Norway, and Sweden, for the purpose of collecting all the do- 

 cuments fitted to complete the elements of their relation. During this 

 undertaking the Recherche did not navigate the northern seas. 



It is not our purpose, at present, to consider the undertakings just men- 

 tioned ; however, as they arc partly connected with those of which your 

 commissioners have to give an account, we may state that the history of 

 the expeditions of 1885, 1836, and 1837, will consist of six volumes, with 

 a large and small atlas. A considerable portion has already appeared. 

 In as far as it concerns M. Robert, we may remark that the geology of 

 itself occupies a volume of the work; and that the collection of rocks 

 and minerals made by this traveller during this first period of the expe- 

 dition, and which is deposited in the museum, consists of nearly 3800 

 specimens, the greater part of high interest. 



The expeditions of 1838 and 1839 have been directed to other northern 

 countries than those formerly visited ; the number of the members of the 

 scientific commission connected with the nautical researches has been 

 greatly increased, and many Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish serrants 

 have been attached to it by their respective governments. The superinten- 

 dency of this commission continues to be intrusted to M, Gaymard, as 

 it was on all former occasions. 



In 1838, the Recherche, then commanded by Captain Fabre, after hav- 

 ing anchoroid in the Gulf of Drontheim, on the western const of Norway, 

 and in Han^merfest lloads, near the extremity of Lapland, sailed to the 

 77th degree of latitude, remaining for a time in the Gulf of Bell-Sund, on 

 the south-west coast of Spitzbcrgen. Trom thence she returned to ex- 

 plore the North Cape, and the coasts of Finmark. She returned to France, 

 after leaving the members of the scientific commission at Hammeifest, a 

 epot situate more than 4° beyond the polar circle, and in the neighbour- 

 hood of which part of the members passed the winter. The others, among 

 whom was M. Robert, explored Lapland, crossing the country in the di- 

 rection of Tornca. M. Robert then travelled as far as Stockholm, through 

 that part of Sweden which he had not seen the preceding year. 



In 1839, the Recherche anchored eight days at the Faroe Islands, and 

 touched at Hamraerfest, as well as at the North Cape. Having taken 

 again on board the greater part of the members of the scientific commis- 

 sion, she repaired to the small island of Cherry, on her way, for the se- 

 cond time, to Spitzbergcn. When there, the corvette went as high as 

 80° of latitude, and remained there for fifteen days, in the Bay of Made- 

 lain e, which is situate on the western coast. She then returned.to France, 

 after having left a portion of the members of the commission at Hammer- 

 fest. These latter traversed Lapland, and some of them extended their 

 observations as far as Moscow ; then, after remaining a while in Poland, 

 Bohemia, and dilTercnt parts of Germany, returned to Paris, not earlier 

 than the middle of 1880. The geological observations of the whole of 

 this itinerary of 1839 belong to M. Durochcr, M. Robert having been se- 

 parated from the commission throughout this journey. He first went by 

 land from Stockholm to Archangel, with the view of finding an opportunity 



